In a significant decision, after the Chandrababu Naidu government in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal government has withdrawn general consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation to conduct raids and probe cases in the state.
In a significant decision, after the Chandrababu Naidu government in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal government has withdrawn general consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation to conduct raids and probe cases in the state.
The decision was taken in a high-level meeting at Nabanna.
Experts, however, said that the phrase, ‘withdrawal of general consent’ was a jargon which only existed theoretically. “As it is a consent of the state government is required to carry out any raid unless the raid was during an inquiry where a Central government employee was involved,” said a High Court lawyer.
The development comes after Mamata Banerjee extended support to Naidu over the issue, saying,"What the Chandrababu Naidu government has done is absolutely right. We will also look into the rules under which it was done. Earlier, we didn't need to use such provisions but we need to do it now as BJP is using CBI and other agencies to pursue its own political interests and vendetta."
On August 3, the AP government issued the GO Ms No. 109 according "general consent" to all members of the Delhi Special Police Establishment to exercise the powers and jurisdiction in Andhra Pradesh against officials of the central government, central government undertakings and private persons for investigating offences under various laws, including the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The reason to withdraw the consent was recent allegations against the top officials of country's premier investigation agency, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister (Home) N China Rajappa told reporters.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, the government hereby withdraws the general consent accorded (in GO Ms 109) to all the members of the Delhi Special Police Establishment to exercise the powers and jurisdiction under the said Act in the state of Andhra Pradesh," a latest Government Order (GO) said.
The state government's move is being seen further intensification of confrontation between the Modi government and Naidu, who is making extensive efforts to forge a non-BJP front to take on the saffron party in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The CBI functions under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act.
Under Section 6 of the Act, a state government "routinely" grants consent to the CBI for exercising its authority in the state and the AP government, too, had issued relevant orders periodically in the last few years.
Ever since he snapped ties with the Narendra Modi-led NDA government in March this year, Naidu had been alleging that the Centre was misusing agencies like the CBI to target political opponents.
The recent raids by Income Tax authorities on some business establishments, run by those close to the ruling Telugu Desam Party in the state, have left Naidu red-faced.
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